Fischler Report: NHL's CBA negotiations cause for panic?

Now that Gary Bettman has presented the NHL's
requests --some would call it "demands" -- for the next Collective
Bargaining Agreement, several media types have both hit the ceiling
and their keyboards.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman (Getty
Images)

Not surprisingly, the usual pro-union suspects are crying
"lockout" if not wolf and it makes one wonder whether such panic
pieces are realistic. For a reasonable answer we turn to a
level-headed, veteran analyst -- Bob McKenzie
of TSN:

“There’s going to be a lot of
‘the sky is falling’ forecasts, and maybe it will, but
I'll wait until September to put on my hard
hat.”

No less worthy of analysis is the following commentary
from ESPN’s Scott Burnside.

What matters is that Burnside's CBA X-ray was written
for NHL.com. That means Scott's sortie
had to have been at least in part sanctioned by the league and,
assuming that's the case, it suggests a more realistic route
for the negotiations.

Either way, make your own judgment:

Should anyone be up in arms over the league's
outline of a proposal that was long on demands but short on
details? The simple answer is no.

Should anyone be surprised that the league asked for
the players to take 46 percent of hockey-related revenues in a
new agreement, down from their current share of 57 percent?
No.

Or that the league's proposal suggested players would
have to wait 10 seasons before qualifying for free agency, up from
the current seven? No.

Or that the league wants to extend entry-level
contracts in some form from the current three years to five years?
No.

Or that contracts carry a term no greater than five
years and that all caphits be the same for the life of the
contract? No.

None of this should come as any surprise to anyone
familiar with how these things play out, and multiple sources
told ESPN.com Saturday that this type
of proposal was entirely expected, even if the final agreement will
likely bear little resemblance to this initial
volley.

If the two sides can agree on the agenda and the
logistics for further meetings, they are then expected to discuss
the proposal and the league's justification for its demands at
meetings in New York.

Would it be a great story for the league and its
players to tell if they hammer out a new deal long before camps or
games are canceled? Could there be a better springboard to training
camp and the 2012-13 season than by charting a course
to labor peace that other higher profile sports could not
find?

Sure. But we're nowhere near that now.

Will Burnside’s prediction come to fruition, or, as
McKenzie suggests, is this attitude of doom and gloom too
preemptive? You decide!

OBSERVATIONS

* LOU LAMORIELLO, MIKE
MODANO, and ED
OLCZYK deservedly have been named the newest entrants
into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Among their other
noteworthy contributions has been the fact that the rapid
development of top-flight hockey players in America is because of
their assorted efforts. Uncle Sam as a stickhandling power has
never been stronger, and for that we can thank Lou, Mike, and
Ed.

* TEEMU
SELANNE'sdecision to
sign on for another Anaheim season is heartening news. The future
Hall of Famer has been nothing but a scoring machine. More
importantly, he's been a marvelous salesman for the NHL and, more
recently, the Ducks franchise. Now we
have to start hoping that Tim
Thomas reconsiders his temporary retirement and
returns to action -- where he
belongs; Boston or otherwise.

The Rick Nash Derby could very
well conclude with the large scorer remaining
in Columbus. Furthermore, the
Blue Jackets’ captain knows this—he’s been
told in no uncertain terms—and will have to adjust if
necessary. … Nash understands that his
boss, GM Scott Howson, must get
a big return on his investment. Nash is Columbus’ only asset
and the GM cannot afford to be wrong. Other potential trade
partners are
aware that Columbus has to get
value or, as one exec says, “the Blue Jackets are
doomed!” …

By limiting the teams to which he’ll agree to be
traded, Nash has made Howson’s job even more
challenging. …

So, what kind of exchange will work for Columbus?
Definitely not draft choices. Other reports erroneously state
that Howson wants only two forwards; fact is, he
wants three good ones. …

While cheery homilies are being transmitted by both
the NHL and
NHLPA PR machines, nothing substantive has
been accomplished in the labor-management meetings so far in terms
of producing a new collective bargaining agreement. The union has
brought up such minor issues as equipment, arena ice quality, and
the selection of team doctors. What everyone should know is
that all of the above—and just about any other
issues—are small potatoes compared to the only major issue
that counts. What makes the players’ concerns so fatuous is
the fact that the teams employ the best doctors, the clubs fly in
their own planes, they stay at the best hotels, and working
conditions up and down the line are first-class.Additionally, right
now the players get 57 percent of the money pie, and the
owners want to reduce
that inequitable ratio. …

While all eyes remain focused on
the Coyotes’ fate, two issues remain
unresolved: 1. Whether or not opponents will succeed in blocking
the sale of the team to Greg Jamison; 2.
Whether Jamison will be able to come up with the estimated selling
price of $170 million. Whatever happens, the Coyotes will be
playing in Phoenix next season.

MORE GOSSIP

After losing out on Zach Parise,
Pittsburgh's top free-agent target may be Shane Doan. (Getty
Images)

Despite reports that
the Stars are looking to trade
captain Brendan Morrow, GM
Joe Nieuwendyk said that he expects Morrow to be a big
partof the club’s success next
season. ...

The Penguins are looking for a
top-six forward to play alongside Sidney
Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
Two unrestricted free agents who could fit that role
are Shane Doan and
Alexander Semin.…

Bobby Ryan is mentioned
as trade bait, and the Flyers, Maple Leafs, and
Penguins are reportedly among the teams interested in
acquiring the Ducks’ winger. According to Randy
Miller of the Camden, N.J.,
Courier-Post, Ryan feels that Philadelphia would be an ideal
choice for him. …

The Maple
Leafs and Red Wings held a
press conference in Detroit to officially announce that the 2013
Winter Classic will be held on January 1st.
…

Eric Staal has
been happy with what the Hurricanes have
done this
summer. Staal told Luke DeCock of
the Charlotte News &Observer that
“just the fact that we’re even in the mix,
that we threw offers out there to these elite guys, is
exciting.” Of course, the biggest move Carolina has made so
far was acquiring Eric’s
brother Jordan. …

Although Nicklas Lidstrom is
staying with the Red Wings organization
as a scout, the seven-time Norris Trophy winner still plans to move
with his family back to Sweden. Lidstrom’s home in
southeast Michigan sold for $2.9 million. …

The Sabres will honor the
“French Connection” line of left wing Rick
Martin,
center Gilbert Perreault, and right
wing Rene Robert with a statue
outside First Niagara Center. All three members of the line
have had their numbers retired by
the Sabres’ organization.

GOSSIP III

Does Las Vegas have a chance at getting into the
NHL? The Las Vegas Sun reports
a building proposal of a 20,000 seat arena to be home for
a new NBA/NHL team. Las Vegas resident
and Hollywood filmmaker Jerry
Bruckheimer has had ownership aspirations and could
step up to take charge of a Sin City NHL franchise. The odds
are 75-25 against. …

The Sabres signed 2012 1st round
pick Zemgus Girgensons to an
entry-level contract. Though Girgensons is expected to
start the season in the AHL, our man in Buffalo, Dave Ricci,
“wouldn't be completely shocked if he made the [Big
Club] out of camp.” …

While some may
regard John Tortorella (Melrose,
Mass.) as intimidating, players appreciate
his gung-ho style. And if you don’t
believe it, ask the latest Ranger Jeff
Halpern. “I love the style of play as far as
being a real aggressive forechecking team,"
Halpern told The
Record’s Andrew Gross. "I enjoyed
playing it when I played for Torts
in Tampa." …

The AHL has named Mike
Lappan, director of public and media relations for
the Charlotte Checkers, winner of the Ken
McKenzie Award for the 2011-12 season. The award is
presented annually to an AHL team executive who is most
successful in promoting his or her club. …

NHL All-Star and U.S. Olympian Mathieu
Schneider has been appointed director of Team USA for
the 2013 Maccabiah games in Israel. Schneider is the
NHL’s all-time leading Jewish scorer. He currently serves as
special assistant to NHLPA Executive Director, Donald
Fehr.